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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. lean — thin
  4. prune — to trim
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. chip — to eat
  8. prune — to trim
  9. pit — in a race
  10. lean — to bend
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. roll — a list
  13. pit — a hole
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. cue — a signal
  16. cue — for pool
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. cue — a hint
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. chip — for betting
  24. jam — in traffic

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com